County nixes ThunderWolf Blvd. idea

The effort to rename a North Side thoroughfare as ThunderWolf Boulevard came to a halt Monday.

Pueblo County commissioners rescinded their resolution earlier this month that urged the state and city to rename University Boulevard for the mascot at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Commissioners reversed their vote over angst and confusion from community Latino groups over how the name change would impact Cesar Chavez Memorial Highway.

The issue centers on Colorado 47. That 7-mile stretch of highway was designated Cesar Chavez Memorial Highway in 2006. A stretch of the highway also goes by University Boulevard.

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To extend the branding of the Belmont campus, a name change was proposed for the University portion of the road. But that angered and confused some Latino groups that labored for the memorial designation to honor the late Latino and labor leader.

“Initially, when this resolution came to us regarding University, there was no discussion of the memorial highway and that was an oversight on our part,” Commissioner Sal Pace said Monday. “There was no intent to show any disrespect on Cesar Chavez or Cesar Chavez highway or Latinos in our community.”

A few members of the Latino community addressed commissioners Monday and thanked them for their reconsideration. Many who spoke said they were proud graduates of the Belmont campus who understand the effort to increase its branding.

“On behalf of members of our Latino community, thank you for rescinding that resolution,” said Sonia Negrete-Winn.”

“I’m sure there probably was no intent on causing any conflict in the community,” said John Cordova, a former commissioner.

Pace is now pushing for extending the Cesar Chavez Memorial Highway throughout Pueblo County. Chavez supporters now are working to rename University as Cesar Chavez Boulevard.